Action Alert! Tell Your Senator to Protect Beaches and the Public!

On February 13, 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2013 wherein it cuts – in its entirety – funding for the “Beaches Program.”  This program provides grants to states to monitor water quality at beaches and to notify the public when water quality exceeds applicable national standards.  

Even in this fiscal climate, it is not a prudent decision to eliminate an under-$10 million program and potentially endanger the health of the millions of people that use our nation’s beaches and the $61.5 billion coastal tourism and recreation economy generated by them.

We have an opportunity this week (March 19th) to urge our Senators to support New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg in asking the Senate Appropriations Committee to restore funding for water quality monitoring.


Here are the 3 easy steps to encourage your Senator to join him.

1. Find your state and identify your Senator(s) here.

Note: This list includes only Senators identified because of their influence on the Committee on Appropriations. If your Senator is not on the list you can help us out by contacting them via this action alert from Surfrider. Thanks!

2. Tell them to support federal funding for the Beach Act

*if they have already supported Senator Lautenberg's letter, don't forget to thank them!

How to tell them:

1. Phone - best
2. Internet -okay
3. Twitter – not bad
4. All three – Activist Ninja

What to say:

Phone & Internet:

"Hi, my name is [your name] and I live in [your state]. I would like to urge Senator [your senator] to support funding for the EPA’s Beach Grant Fund.

More specifically, I encourage you to join Senator Lautenberg in sending a letter of support to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies to fund the Beach Act. 

Thank you."

Twitter:

Dear @[your senator] I urge you to support funding for EPA’s Beach Grant fund via the Appropriations Committee (via @surfrider) #CleanOcean

3. Spread the Word

Find background information here: http://bit.ly/no_monitoring

After you've done the above (and perhaps attained Activist Ninja status), let us know on our Facebook Page!